Report: Boy forced into van kicking, screaming

EAST ALTON — Authorities in East Alton and surrounding areas were put into action Tuesday evening after a witness reported seeing a teenage boy forced into a white van, kicking and screaming.

East Alton Police Chief Darren Carlton said that the call came in not long after 5 p.m. A younger boy was near the intersection of Murray Street and Grand Avenue when he saw an older boy struggling with an “elderly” man. He was forced into the van, described as a smaller white Econoline utility van with newspapers covering the rear windows. The van then sped off in the direction of Old St. Louis Road.

A press release said the driver of the van yelled at the boy twice before grabbing him and pulling him into the vehicle.

The boy, described as having brown hair and a thin build, was estimated to be about 14 years old. He was wearing a red polo shirt and denim shorts.

Tuesday evening, police eyed multiple white vans in the area but none were the vehicle in question.

“We hope it was something like a father finding a kid where he wasn’t supposed to be,” Carlton said approximately two hours after the reported incident. “We havent gotten any reports of anyone who’s missing.”

Police radio traffic Tuesday evening indicated that no surveillance video in the area had been found possibly related to the incident.

Anyone with possible information regarding the report is encouraged to call the East Alton Police Department, 618-259-6212.